Coronet Theatre (San Francisco)

The Coronet Theatre opened its doors on November 2, 1949, with a design rooted in the Streamline Moderne style. Architects Alexander and Mackenzie Cantin crafted the building to feature stadium-style seating, a rarity for the era, which provided patrons with an elevated view of the curved screen. It was originally intended to be named the Ritz, but developers opted for the Coronet moniker before construction concluded. In a unique nod to the technology of its day, the lobby included a separate room dedicated to a small television set, offering visitors a free look at the emerging medium of broadcast television while they waited for their film to begin.